What do you do if your virtual team is struggling to build relationships remotely?

1 Establish clear expectations

One of the first steps to building relationships remotely is to set clear and realistic expectations for your team. This includes defining the scope, goals, roles, and responsibilities of each team member, as well as the communication channels, tools, and frequency that you will use. Having a shared understanding of what you expect from each other and how you will work together can reduce confusion, frustration, and conflict, and increase accountability, transparency, and alignment.

2 Schedule regular check-ins

Another way to build relationships remotely is to schedule regular check-ins with your team. This can be a mix of formal and informal meetings, such as weekly updates, monthly reviews, or daily stand-ups. The purpose of these check-ins is to monitor the progress, feedback, and challenges of your team, as well as to celebrate the achievements, milestones, and successes. Additionally, you can use these check-ins to share personal stories, interests, and hobbies, and to acknowledge and appreciate each other's contributions and efforts.

3 Create a virtual water cooler

A virtual water cooler is a space where you and your team can chat, socialize, and have fun online. This can be a dedicated channel, group, or platform where you can share memes, jokes, photos, videos, or anything else that sparks your interest or humor. Creating a virtual water cooler can help you build rapport, trust, and friendship with your team, as well as to relieve stress, boost morale, and enhance creativity. You can also use this space to organize virtual games, quizzes, or events that can foster team spirit and engagement.

4 Encourage feedback and collaboration

Feedback and collaboration are essential for building relationships remotely, as they can help you improve your performance, learn from each other, and solve problems together. You can encourage feedback and collaboration by asking for and giving constructive and respectful feedback, by inviting and listening to different perspectives and ideas, and by using collaborative tools and methods, such as shared documents, brainstorming sessions, or polls. By doing so, you can show your team that you value their input, respect their opinions, and support their growth.

5 Embrace diversity and inclusion

Working remotely can expose you to different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences that can enrich your team and your project. However, it can also create challenges and misunderstandings if you are not aware of and sensitive to the diversity and inclusion of your team. You can embrace diversity and inclusion by learning about and respecting the cultural norms, preferences, and styles of your team members, by avoiding stereotypes, assumptions, and biases, and by creating a safe and supportive environment where everyone can express themselves and be heard.

6 Be authentic and empathetic

Finally, building relationships remotely requires you to be authentic and empathetic. This means being honest, open, and respectful with your team, as well as showing interest, care, and compassion for their well-being, feelings, and needs. You can be authentic and empathetic by sharing your strengths, weaknesses, and challenges, by asking and listening to how your team is doing, by offering and accepting help and support, and by acknowledging and addressing any issues or conflicts that may arise.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?